Six Jobs That Will Make You Healthier

From an increased risk of heart disease to more fat around your middle, studies show that our time at the workplace (8.8 hours per day on average) can be hazardous to our health.

"Often psychological environments have more to do with health than physical environments," says Bill Burnett, author of Advantage: Business Competition in the New Normal.

Two companies producing the same product under the same physical conditions can have a radically different effect on employees, he maintains. "The single biggest health factor in large companies is the psychological environment established by the leadership team," says Burnett.

Search Jobs

Some stress, however, can be a good thing according vocational rehabilitation counselor Marky Charleen Stein. "Too little stress leads to boredom and inhibits the release of endorphins," otherwise known as "happy hormones," she says. As a person who helps people with on-the-job injuries, Stein suggests that jobs involving a variety of physical movements are healthier than jobs involving only a singular, repetitive movement.

We asked the experts to single out six jobs that can actually make you healthier while earning a decent paycheck. The wage information displayed below is courtesy of online salary database, PayScale.com.

1. Events coordinator

Just like Baby Bear in the children's fairy tale of 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears,' Stein says, "A medium stress level job might be that of an events or activity coordinator -- just right." Creating fun and memorable events for businesses or individuals is a multibillion dollar industry that's still growing. Earning certification from the International Event and Wedding Professionals organization can go a long way toward giving you the skills you'll need to feel less stressed when juggling everything it takes to pull off a successful event.

2. Chiropractor

Stein notes that chiropractors use a range of movements treating patients. But they're also often self-employed -- taking a demanding boss out of the stress equation. Another bonus: According to the BLS, the chiropractic approach to health care is holistic and uses natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments. A well-educated practitioner will certainly know a thing or two about healthy living.

3. Physical Therapist

Physical therapists (PTs) enjoy lots of variety, from patients ranging in age from babies to the elderly, as well as physically demanding treatments that require lots of lifting, stooping, kneeling, crouching and standing. Many PTs typically work 40-hour weeks without emergencies or overtime, according to the BLS.

4. Fitness Trainer/Exercise Instructor

Exercise physiologist, speaker and fitness instructor Joyce Moore says exercise lovers should consider making their favorite pastime a career. "You may need to get a certification," says Moore, but the health boost is undeniable. Moore notes she burns about 200 calories per hour teaching.

5. Gardener/Landscaper

Moore says, "This is a great job because it definitely reduces stress levels and is also a great calorie burner." She estimates grass cutting, weeding, and general maintenance burns 235 calories per hour on average. Plus, the time spent outdoors boosts Vitamin D levels necessary for maintaining a healthy bone structure and supporting the immune system, Moore says.

6. Auto Detailer

"Who doesn't love cars?" asks Moore. Between washing and waxing, the average person can burn about 300-500 calories, she notes, not to mention reaping the rewards of meditative tasks like polishing. Remember the lesson to the Karate Kid from Mr. Miyagi? "Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important."

Related Articles

Add a Comment

21 Comments

Filter by:

Kris Caron

Physical Therapy is great, if you money and free time to study. I worked as a physical therapy aide at my local hospital for 5 years, and was attending college to get my prerequisites done for the Nursing program. It is so competitive, I have to down grade to a Medical Office Assistant. Trust me, that in itself is competitive as well. Getting into any program is expensive, competitive and I hope worth it. We are in a economic crisis, people getting a good paying job that is low stress. Getting that is what is causing the stress. Not that easy, I already have a Certified Personal Trainer degree and have worked in the hospital in Radiology, physical therapy. I still have to get another degree just so I can work again. Any ideas go for it, just going finish this program and hopefully find work.

Auto detailers are also exposed to many chemicals used for cleaning, "glossing" and the like. These chemicals are breathed in, and/or absorbed into the skin. Both entry methods then introduce these chemicals into the blood-stream, where organs and tissue come into contact with and absorb them. Once, or once every now and then is one thing, but being exposed to these types of chemicals daily and in high doses is going to have some form of negative impact on your health. This is something that I'm surprised hasn't and isn't coming up with more jobs when and where harsh chemical cleaners, solvents and the like are used. If they are considered toxic if ingested once, what does long term repeated absorption do?

Gas utility meter reader, I do this job. I walk 3-7 miles a day, and it's enforced walking, essentially. Roughly 11,000 homes I visit every 42 work days. A job with a built in health plan. You get healthy doing the job, and to do the job you have to remain physically fit to do all the walking!Chuck Beatty, Pittsburgh

Physical Therapist, that's got to be one of the biggest ripoffs there is, they just tell you to "bend you knee 5 times, check it off on a chart, and say "now get out and dont forget to pay at the window". And these people are averaging $67k a year??? What a scam.

This is the STUPIDEST article I've ever read. Sure, less stress is more healthy, but to say that these are "healthy" jobs is rediculous. How is being a party planner, tasting foods and drinks and running around to lots of events make this healthy? It's like the holidays 365 a year! And, I've had physical therapy. They pretty much stand there and tell YOU what to do. They aren't doing it with/for you.

Being an auto detailer? I don't think they are wax on and wax off any more. Most if them have equipment to do their tasks, and how about those fumes??